Real Talk With Diggy Simmons: Speaks On Critics, Writing His Own Rhymes & State Of Hip Hop

After seeing the great feedback, “The First Flight,” mixtape by Diggy Simmon got on RealTalkNY, I decided to reach out to him to discuss his music, critics and his future plans in rap. Check the full interview below.

Nigel D.: What inspired you to drop your first mixtape, “The First Flight”?

Diggy Simmons: Well I’ve been rhyming since I was 5 years old and I kinda stopped when I was 10. Then this summer I got back into writing and rhyming, I had a lot to express so I was just making tracks on garage band with industry instrumentals for a while. Then I released a remix to, “She don’t wanna man,” by Asher Roth and it got good feedback, so I had the idea of doing a tape and I just got up and did it all by myself.

Nigel D.:What sparked your interest in rap and why you stopped for a few years?

Diggy Simmons: I think it’s sad that the media and people influence us on our decisions so much that we’re almost afraid to do what we want to do. I’m mainly known for my fashion sense so when I stopped rapping I did it based on I can only do one or the other. I felt that way because you always tend to see people get ridiculed for quote on quote “Trying to do it all”. As I’ve matured now I have I don’t care what people say mentality when it comes to doing what I love to do.

Nigel D.: Do you feel people judge your music sometimes based on your background and the image they have of you on TV instead of your content?

Diggy Simmons: Oh for sure in my outro on the mixtape “I gotta make it” I wrote, “The ignorance of every comment on each blog he’s a rich kid why he rapping he don’t need a job.” That’s just one of the many things I will here over and over until my point is 100% proven. No one thinks that I honestly have a hunger for this because of how I came up. So a lot of people hate instead of embrace because there first thought they believe is his uncle is gonna get him signed and his dad helped him with his tape. People fail to realize that I’m a kid and they’ve seen me on T.V. for so long that it’s the only thing they think I’m capable of doing. This is my passion and I go hard at it on a daily basis just like the next man that wants this does. I’m not seeking help from my dad or uncle because I believe the feeling of me making it will feel much greater by putting in that hard work and dedication. My dad’s super proud he just heard the whole tape only like 3 days ago so he’s real pleased. Same with my uncle and Jojo they are proud of it.

Nigel D.: What topics do you plans to discuss in your music?

Diggy Simmons: I’m a story teller so I just write about past experiences I’ve been through. Or what I’m dealing with right now. My music is a reflection of me.

Nigel D.: Some artist have an image that doesn’t reflect their real life, are you going to avoid that?

Diggy Simmons: Definitely I’m real in everything I write down to what record. I found that really important. What’s the point of rapping about something you haven’t experienced yet.

Nigel D.: Ok so the mixtape has received good feedback online, what are your next plans?
Diggy Simmons: I just keep going going hard at it. Keep writing and releasing music. If the right deal comes along we’ll see, I’m definitely looking forward to doing an album in the future.

Nigel D.: What rappers did you grow up listening to have influenced your music?

Diggy Simmons: I’m influenced by a lot of people but mainly Lupe, Q-tip, and Andre 3,000.

Nigel D.: So your focused on lyrical content?

Diggy Simmons: Yeah that’s like my number one focus. I write all my rhymes the day before studio there for everything is perfect and I can go straight in. People don’t think I write my rhymes which makes me mad and happy at the same time. It makes me happy because it’s a form of flattery they do not think a kid wrote it. Then it makes me mad they weren’t the ones watching me write at 5:00 A.M. for 10:00 A.M. studio.

Nigel D.: On the track, “What’s It All For,” you state, “We losing the definition of success,” how do you define it?

Diggy Simmons: When people in music think of success It’s millions of dollars , mansions, A lot of grammys, a lot of women etc. So a lot of people think luxury living is when you have made it when it’s necessarily not. I say in the rhyme “This something your supposed to set” meaning you create your own definition of success not some one else’s

Nigel D.: On, “Truth Is Me,” you rap, “The show almost put my social life to an end,” can you explain how the show affected your life?

Diggy Simmons: I’m growing up and I’m a teen and all my friends have treated me normal, but other people I see in the streets don’t so It’s really hard. There’s a lot in that song that I expressed I wrote that on and off for about 2 weeks because I was trying to get so much out in such little times. There’s a lot more that I was saying behind the words.

Nigel D.: So what do you think of the state of Hip Hop now?

Diggy Simmons: As I said I mean the substance is definitely missing from a lot of Hip Hop music. A lot of people are just talking about the same things and rappers my age coming up are looking at this and are seeing who’s living quote on quote “The Life.” So they believe that’s the way they should rhyme to “Make it.”

Nigel D.: How do you feel about people writing you off because they feel you haven’t been through struggles in life? Assuming you have it made because of your family basically.

Diggy Simmons: As I said in the beginning of the truth of me, “You know a lot of people just run and assume how they think I am cause they see the house and they cars and they see the wealth they think they see it all.” People honestly believe that I don’t have struggles and I don’t go through anything like a normal dude just because my family is wealthy, not every issue has to deal with money.

Around The Web

Join The Discussion: Log In With

i aint really been hassled to listen before, this nigga 13 years old? word?

By: real stuff

12.17.2009 @ 2:11 PM

and this nigga russel simmons son/sibling? Srsly?????

By: smh at you nigaaz!!

12.17.2009 @ 2:20 PM

look lil dude has a future in hip-hop, he just has to stay away from lil chucky n them and he’ll do fine lol cause dude can spit and does have a good head on his shoulders so keep it up!!

By: Backlash

12.17.2009 @ 2:21 PM

lol@diggy simmons speaking on the state of hiphop .. c’mon son get the fucc outta hea

By: awe

12.17.2009 @ 2:54 PM

realtalk with who?

By: Da Business

12.17.2009 @ 3:32 PM

Props to the site for FINALLY comin’ through with an interview.

By: Hi Hater!

12.17.2009 @ 4:19 PM

who cares????????

how about you interview this nigga J.COLE???? I mean everybody on this site love this nigga
plus he aint THAT famous now, so I bet you could get an interview

(since we know RTNY always promise interviews but never/rarely deliver. No Hate, im just being real)

By: dtown45

12.17.2009 @ 4:24 PM

backlash go suck a dick ur mad becuz the kid actually knows wtf hes talking about get a life he’s actually dope better then a whole lot of nigga’s out here

By: ektayl2

12.17.2009 @ 4:31 PM

Wheres J’ Cole…You are not being real on real talk…How come upon all the video interviews you have had this one had to written….Did you talk to his spokesperson…Whats good real talk…How much money you getting for this….The boy is cold thoug don’t get me twisted but too much propaganda….I guess the reason for this website was to make some money…I ain’t knocking that…The Game is to be told not be sold….Ya heard….

By: SMH

12.17.2009 @ 4:34 PM

The nigga is betta then his bitch ass wanna be brother! His brother stay tryna be cool & makin tough faces in his videos lookin as soft as a new born & as pussy as a cat! lol

By: Wesley Pipes

12.17.2009 @ 4:56 PM

LMAO @ Backlash!!! The young boy made a big impression on u Nigel, but i aint into kid rap. He talented tho. BELIEVE DAT!

By: funny comments from haters

12.17.2009 @ 5:11 PM

Yall a bunch of hating ass bum ass niggas Lol chill lil man gonna be the next kanye watch….oh yea yall did forget kanye came from a middle class family huh?ignorant bastards smh

By: eddiek17

12.17.2009 @ 5:47 PM

Man I dont want to hear about this kid talking about his “struggles”. Nothing wrong with his music, I just dont wanna hear about his struggles.

By: kallaway

12.17.2009 @ 6:00 PM

he wasn’t really talkin about his struggles it was the questions they asked that made it sound like struggle….diggin his music though he has real substance

By: trilla12

12.17.2009 @ 6:52 PM

um okay? can someone ask me why this lil nigga is kind of inspiring right now he’s on his shit yung

By: realyrealtalkny

12.17.2009 @ 7:18 PM

“After getting paid to put, “The First Flight,” mixtape by Diggy Simmon on RealTalkNY, Diggy’s people reached out to me to discuss payment for a promotional interview to discuss his music, critics and his future plans in rap.”

Edited for truthery…

By: Quentin09

12.17.2009 @ 7:24 PM

reallyrealtalkny ^^ is mad up there because he recently sent his 100th email to real talk of his wack ass shit and he’s takin his hurt out on a 14 year old kid because he sucks ass whoopty doo for u buddy how do u feel?

By: Backlash

12.17.2009 @ 9:28 PM

dtown= JoJo Simmons ..Ol ugly ass Nigga Catching Feelings …lol, and who said i was mad ? ..i just think he’s the last person who should be speaking about the state of hip hop ..really what does he know about hip hop? ..just because rev run is his dad and and Russel Simmons is his uncle doesn’t mean “he knows what he’s talking about” ..hop off his dicc, this nigga’s uh diggy Simmons blog groupie .

By: dtown45

12.17.2009 @ 10:43 PM

@ backlash im not on his dick but how do u know how much he knows about hip u one of the hatin ass niggas he talk about in his rhymes for real sayin just cuz he grew up rich don’t mean he don’t know shit correct? he could know hip hop just as well as a 14 year old from a hood would

By: hoodfigga1

12.17.2009 @ 10:46 PM

hmmm a lot of hate around this kid…. good job lil diggy

By: niggaricanblaze

12.17.2009 @ 10:48 PM

THE BEATS IS FIRE

By: RealTalkCA

12.18.2009 @ 12:30 AM

hes not bad

By: Clipz

12.18.2009 @ 2:10 AM

“I’m a story teller so I just write about past experiences I’ve been through.”

Sorry, but I couldnt help but laugh at that. Isnt this kid like 13? What experiences has he been thru besides not having a straw for his juicebox?

By: RealTalkLI

12.18.2009 @ 2:31 AM

lmao at #23…….but like I said, kid startin too young. Once his fanbase (kids) outgrow him, he won’t have anyone to rap at except girls..and by then there will be someone better than him at it. *cough*lilbowwow*cough cough*

By: bluecreme

12.18.2009 @ 2:55 AM

o.K. DIGGY, HE SOUNDS GREAT.

By: CEO

12.18.2009 @ 12:18 PM

IT’S SAD THAT PEOPLE THINK THAT WAY ABOUT HIM, THEY FORGET THAT HE’S HUMAN LIKE EVERYONE

ELSE. BUT DIGGY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT’S JUST IGNORANCE ON THOSE PEOPLES PARTS.

KEEP DOING WHAT YOU LOVE DIGG AND FOR THE HATERS MAKE SURE YOU STUNT ON THEM 100%

SWAG IT OUT, WHEN THE HATERS COMMENT UNDERSTAND THAT IT’S IGNORANCE TALKING AND MOVE

ON. THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER THAT’S GOING TO BE THERE BCUZ HATE IS SOMETHING THAT ROMES

HEAVY ON EARTH. DO YOU THING LIL MAN AND GOD BLESS.

By: Hi Hater!

12.18.2009 @ 1:40 PM

this shit is CORNY!!!!!

@ RTNY ; can we get a J.Cole interview…like seriously dat would be dope

By: anonymous ;)

12.18.2009 @ 7:33 PM

he’s 14 turning 15 on march .

i think his mixtape is really GOOD i give him props no dissapointment at all : )

By: fastlane3

12.19.2009 @ 12:19 AM

dope shit he’s a genuine nigga stop the kid cuz he’s a kid and he was born into a rich family tht u ALL wish u had and on top of it i aint even guna lie shit i wanted to hate when i saw this title but he nice give it up

By: fastlane3

12.19.2009 @ 12:20 AM

stop the hate*

By: jam master j

12.19.2009 @ 1:48 AM

tell diggy i wanna fuck his sisters,and his music sucks just like his brother jo ho.

so what he spoke on tha state of hip hop at least he told the truth about it.

By: Timallen

03.25.2010 @ 3:41 AM

I can work with illiterate…but ignorance…. I leave it to god. These losers on here passing Judgement on lil Homey? While ya’ll on here writing garbage, He’s somewhere writing lYRICS YA IDIOTS!. Now How much are ya’ll words worth…..(CRICKETS) Exactly! Imagine if he was a weak minded person an actually listening to this Dubious shit. First of all I’ll bet all u haters are let me Guess “In between Jobs” …uh huh ,Right…so now you say to yourself….Self ..uh, How in the hell did it get to this? How did I let a 14 yr old kid do what I’ve been trying to do since love bug starski…ya Bitches! So heres some advice….Put down the vaseline…exit out of pornhub….and take that pickle out cha anus! Be useful and Go take your shoes for a walk ya brain dead degenerates! peace to diggy. Go live ya dream and prosper Lil Homey! These Riff Raffs Got one foot in the grave and the over on a fuckin’ banana Peel!

Timallen

By: MEEL

03.28.2010 @ 11:22 PM

MAN, STOP HATIN’ SON HAS MAD TALENT FOR A KID AND THE TRACKS ARE HOTTER THAT A LOT OF GROWN ASS MEN! CHECK HIM IN 4 YRS. DAMN STOP HATIN!

By: wowUstooopid

04.14.2010 @ 9:59 PM

why u hatin on dis kid at least hes making his future while u haters be sitting in front of the computer for hours to hate, while u 30 have no job , living with your mum, eating packet noodles cuz u aint got no money and u smell like diseased babooon. GO GET A LIFE!!!!

By: anijah

12.30.2010 @ 2:29 PM

diggy u r fantastic i love them beats but u a young icon thats awsome keep up the good work

By: zallief

01.21.2011 @ 8:00 AM

my name is zalief i know u dont know me but im trying to get a record deal i write my own songs i really know how to sing every body say i sound like michael jackson no lie ican prove it my number is 2677010305

By: jayna

03.09.2011 @ 9:20 PM

hi this is jayna im am 16 i love u.How old are u?

By: jayna

03.10.2011 @ 7:21 PM

i had a fight today n i win like always n if i see her again i said i was goin to fight her ass adain diggy i want to make u mine

By: Deja

07.15.2011 @ 3:40 AM

Y’all need to stop Hatin all he is tryin to do is write music. For the people that’s saying he can write music and he can’t rhyme he can. I know what Diggy simmon is going through.
Diggy simmon is right its not all about the fame and fortune. Yeah I want to be rapper am I just going to sit their and let them say stuff about me no I am going to keep following my dream.

By: Deja

07.15.2011 @ 3:46 AM

I mean cant

By: Deja

07.15.2011 @ 3:47 AM

Stay stuff

By: Yamilex Mari Medina

07.29.2011 @ 12:44 AM

Omg Diggy im ur number one fan like you dnt even no i love you nd i just wanna meet yhue nd i wanna be your Mrs.right omg your soo dam SEXY ur BANGIN like omg yhur HOT I Love Yhue daddie

By: Yamilex Mari Medina

07.29.2011 @ 12:46 AM

i love you i want to be your wifey atlest come to allentown pa 18102 so i can meet you and thats it i cry myself to sleep cuz i wanna meet yhuue SO BAD like it not even funny no more daddie ur my daddie te amo papi <3